A man who threatened a taxi driver with scissors, stole the vehicle and drove at high speed in a 30mph zone before crashing into a parked car, has been sentenced to an indefinite period in a secure mental health unit.
Nicholas Daniel, 35, from Felindre in Swansea, hailed a taxi in Waunarlwydd in Swansea in July 2024.
He had armed himself with a pair of scissors from his mother’s home and asked the driver to stop at a shop where he bought alcohol, before returning to the taxi and threatening the driver unless he left the car.
The judge decided on the secure mental health unit because returning to prison “is likely to result in a relapse and risk to the public when you are released.”
Swansea Crown Court heard on Wednesday that, when ordered to leave the taxi, driver Geraint Jones did not think Daniel was serious until he saw the scissors close to his stomach.
Daniel told him: “No, I’m serious. I don’t want to hurt you, you’ve got to get out.”
Prosecutor Ian Wright told the sentencing hearing that Daniel drove the stolen cab away from the shop in an “erratic” manner, often driving 60mph in a 30mph zone.
Daniel’s intention was, according to Mr Wright, to take his own life but he had changed his mind for an “unknown reason” and eventually crashed at speed into a parked car in the Morriston area of Swansea.
When arrested, Daniel told police he “was an excellent driver.”
The 35-year-old pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges of robbery, dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis, driving without a licence and without insurance.
The court heard how the owner of the stolen taxi said the robbery had placed a financial strain on his business.
The owner of the car that Daniel crashed into, a community health nurse, said the loss had had a “massive impact” on her work.
Mr Daniel had a number of previous convictions, including burglary, theft and possession of drugs.
Speaking on behalf of Daniel, psychiatrist Dr S Pradhan told the sentencing hearing the 35-year-old was experiencing “acute psychosis” at the time of the robbery and was experiencing hallucinations.
He added that Daniel continues to suffer from schizophrenia.
Judge Catherine Richards told Daniel he will remain detained indefinitely in hospital, as “a return to prison is likely to result in a relapse and risk to the public when you are released.”
Following the sentencing Abul Hussain of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Nicholas Daniel brazenly robbed a taxi driver of his vehicle in broad daylight, then drove dangerously and crashed as he was trying to flee. His actions were reckless and put other people at risk.
“Taxi drivers provide a valuable public service and should not have to face threats of violence from customers.”
There was no timeframe given for how long Nicholas Daniel would be detained in hospital but he would have to face a tribunal before being considered for release.
He was also disqualified from driving for at least 2 years and would need to take an extended driving test on release.
